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Aviva Premiership: Bath favourites to capture Rhys Priestland from Scarlets

Image: Rhys Priestland: Bath favourites to capture fly-half

Bath are the favourites to sign Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland from Scarlets.

London Irish were reportedly in the hunt for the talented No 10 last month, but the West Country side look set to win the chase.

Asked about his future after Scarlets’ victory over Ospreys on Sunday, he did not confirm where he would be playing next season but he told Sky Sports: “Everything's sorted and I think I need to come out this week and put everything to bed."

It is thought he has agreed a two-year deal at The Rec, where he will provide competition for George Ford.

Priestland, 27, has won 32 Wales caps, but is currently behind Ospreys star Dan Biggar in the Wales fly-half pecking order.

He would become Aviva Premiership title contenders Bath's second major signing for next term, joining Fiji scrum-half Niko Matawalu, who joins from Glasgow. South Africa No 8 Duane Vermeulen is reportedly another Bath recruitment target.

Priestland joined the Scarlets in 2005, graduating to the first team via their academy system.

Priestland is not among the current group of Wales internationals to be offered national dual contracts - deals funded by the Welsh Rugby Union and Wales' four professional regions from a £3.3m pot.

Six players have so far signed up - Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Jake Ball, Rhodri Jones, Hallam Amos and Tyler Morgan - with more set to follow this month.

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